Shows like "Gilmore Girls" encouraging teen pregnancy...?

Question

I'm not one to say TV is the end all be all number one influence in a child/teen's life. It's not a show's fault to blame for teenage pregnancy BUT I do realize that shows glamorize pregnancy and parenting.

I realize while parenting IS the most important thing to sort fact from fiction--what happens in those teen years when parents don't know everything--according to their teens? Do you think these shows, particularly the Gilmore Girls, have a negative and unrealistic effect on young women and girls?

This is not the only show I’ve seen to show where teen pregnancy works out great--there are so many others where teen pregnancy is shown as “easy.” While I know many teen pregnancies also turn out great (including mine) statistically the majority do not. Do you have any suggestions on a realistic way the media can confront this issue?

Since joining Y!A I have had three girls ask me if teenage pregnancy is like the Gilmore Girls--or made a reference about parenting being like that. It truly concerns me.

Nowhere did I even say I was going to protest the show. Nowhere did I say it was sending subliminal messages.

Realistically the young teens who watch the show see their great relationship. They see the horrible relationship between their (older) parent and then---therefore, yes I do see the way they would amount young motherhood automatically to closeness.

Many teenage mothers never graduate high school let alone end up owning a hotel. Many teenage mothers never have a nice home like they show. In a single parent home most parents have to work two jobs just to support their children and/or are on government assistance. Is that the message we want to be sending our kids? I really don't think so.

There are a lot of other shows that view teenage pregnancy as a walk in the park. "One Tree Hill" shows a girl who is pregnant, still in High School, with a decked out house that I could never imagine living in.

The media portrays teen pregnancy as something that just happens. It does not ever show the stereotype. It never shows struggle. As with many shows with (older parents) having a breeze.

While talking about struggle is one thing but I would really love to see a show that shows it like it is because right now--they are not doing anything to help these young girls realize fact from fiction.

I'm sorry if this offended you but I live in the "real" world. A world where young girls ARE influenced.

Answer 1

I don't feel that Gilmore Girls is a bad influence, because while now that Rory is an adult things are great, they have made it obvious that life was not always easy on Rory or Loralie. It is a television show and I find it sad that people would use TV as a blueprint to there lives, though I know some do just that.
There is no glamour in teen pregnancy, but it is okay for there to be hope. It isn't like they are out there saying that this is what everyone should do.
It's hard to say, you never know what will have an impact on the pliable minds of teens.

Answer 2

Are you serious. Figures there will be something wrong with every single show on TV. Some activist will find one thing to start a rampage.

No I dont think it encourages teen pregnancy, first cause Lor always talks about how hard it was raising Rory with no money and time and no help from other people. And still struggling with raising her right. "BUT I do realize that shows glamorize pregnancy and parenting." How dare you!! This show does not promote that. Look, if you are trying to start some type of protest against Gilmore Girls, you aren't going to get much support from people. They are not sending subliminal messages to get pregnant when a friggin teenager. Lor is not saying get pregnant when you are 16 and raise a kid, it's easy!! If she was, I wouldn't watch the show. No other part of the show has anyone gotten pregnant that was a teen.Therefore, the show does not promote teen pregnancy! If you really watched the show you would know that. Just finding info from other people who might and might not watch it on a regular basis and actually watching it are two different things. Find another show to protest against. Get over it. Daggum.